
"Fathers and mothers should carefully and prayerfully study the characters
of their children. They should seek to repress and restrain those traits that
are too prominent, and to encourage others which may be deficient, thus
securing harmonious development. This is no light matter. The father may
not consider it a great sin to neglect the training of his children; but thus does
God regard it. Christian parents need a thorough conversion upon this subject.
Guilt is accumulating upon them, and the consequences of their actions reach
down from their own children to children's children. The ill-balanced mind,
the hasty temper, the fretfulness, envy, or jealousy, bear witness to parental
neglect. These evil traits of character bring great unhappiness to their pos-
sessors. How many fail to receive from companions and friends the love which
they might have, if they were more amiable. How many create trouble
wherever they go, and in whatever they are engaged
!"—"Fundamentals of
Christian Education,"
pp. 66, 67.
3.
What is the promise to God-fearing parents? Isa. 49:25, last clause.
NoTE.—"There is a God above, and the light and glory from His throne
rests upon the faithful mother as she tries to educate her children to resist the
influence of evil. No other work can equal hers in importance. She has not;
like the artist, to paint a form of beauty upon canvas, nor, like the sculptor,
to chisel it from marble. She has not, like the author, to embody a noble
thought in words of power, nor, like the musician, to express a beautiful
sentiment in melody. It is hers, with the help of God, to develop in a human
soul the likeness of the
divine."—"Ministry of Healing,"
pp. 377, 378.
4.
What relationship exists between God, parents, and the child?
ANSWER.—"Parents, in the training of your children, study the lessons
that God has given in nature. If you would train a pink, or rose, or lily, how
would you do it? Ask the gardener by what process he makes every branch
and leaf to flourish so beautifully, and to develop in symmetry and loveliness.
He. will tell you that it was by no rude touch, no violent effort; for this would
only break the delicate stems. It was by little attentions, often repeated. He
moistened the soil, and protected the growing plants from the fierce blasts
and from the scorching sun, and God caused them to flourish and to blossom
into loveliness. In dealing with your children, follow the method of the
gardener. By gentle touches, by loving ministrations, seek to fashion theit
characters after the pattern of the character of Christ.
"Encourage the expression of love toward God and toward one another.
The reason why there are so many hardhearted men and women in the world
is that true affection has been regarded as weakness, and has been discouraged
and repressed. The better nature of these persons was stifled in childhood;
and unless the light of divine love shall melt away their cold selfishness, their
happiness will be forever ruined. If we wish our children to possess the tender
spirit of Jesus, and the sympathy that angels manifest for us, we must en-
courage the generous loving impulses of childhood."—"The
Desire of Ages,"
pp. 515, 516.
The Purpose and Foundation of Character Building
5.
What is the supreme purpose to be sought in character building?
Prov. 6:20-22.
NorE.—"The object of discipline is the training of the child for self-
government. He should be taught self-reliance and self-control. Therefore as
[25
1